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Physics Lesson 3.9.2 - Position vs Time Graph in Uniformly Accelerated (Decelerated) Motion

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Welcome to our Physics lesson on Position vs Time Graph in Uniformly Accelerated (Decelerated) Motion, this is the second lesson of our suite of physics lessons covering the topic of Position v's Time and Distance v's Time Graph, you can find links to the other lessons within this tutorial and access additional physics learning resources below this lesson.

Position vs Time Graph in Uniformly Accelerated (Decelerated) Motion

In non-uniform motion, the position vs time graph is not linear as the position does not change at the same rate everywhere as shown in the graph below.

Physics Tutorials: This image shows

From the above graph, it can be seen that the displacement Δx2 in the second interval is greater than the displacement Δx1 in the first one. As a result, the velocity v2 in the second interval is greater than the velocity v1 in the first one because the intervals Δt are equal. Mathematically, we have

∆x2 > ∆x1∆x2/∆t > ∆x1/∆t ⟹ v2 > v1

Therefore, from the above discussion we can draw the following conclusion:

"Steeper the slope (greater the gradient) of a position vs time graph, greater the moving velocity of the object."

In this kind of motion, the slope changes at every instant, so we can only calculate the instantaneous velocity through the abovementioned method, not the average velocity. Look at the figure:

Physics Tutorials: This image shows

It is obvious that slope 2 is steeper than the slope 1. This means the velocity v2 at the point where the slope 2 touches the graph is greater than the velocity v1 at the point where the slope 1 touches the graph.

You have reach the end of Physics lesson 3.9.2 Position vs Time Graph in Uniformly Accelerated (Decelerated) Motion. There are 4 lessons in this physics tutorial covering Position v's Time and Distance v's Time Graph, you can access all the lessons from this tutorial below.

More Position v's Time and Distance v's Time Graph Lessons and Learning Resources

Kinematics Learning Material
Tutorial IDPhysics Tutorial TitleTutorialVideo
Tutorial
Revision
Notes
Revision
Questions
3.9Position v's Time and Distance v's Time Graph
Lesson IDPhysics Lesson TitleLessonVideo
Lesson
3.9.1Position verse Time Graph in Uniform Motion
3.9.2Position vs Time Graph in Uniformly Accelerated (Decelerated) Motion
3.9.3Mathematics of Position vs Time Graph
3.9.4Distance vs Time Graph in Uniform Motion

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